The monitoring of the telecommunication equipment market is aimed at verifying that the marketing, commissioning and use of these products is in accordance with the Spanish and European regulations on the Single European Market.
The Secretary of State is the competent authority for market surveillance of radio equipment and telecommunication equipment other than radio.
The manufacturers of telecommunications equipment must assess their conformity, particularly with regard to compliance with the essential requirements of safety, electromagnetic compatibility and adequate use of the radio spectrum, as well as comply with the other administrative requirements laid down in the sectoral regulations.
Market surveillance activities come both from specific campaigns undertaken at national and European level and from complaints from individuals and companies. These actions are carried out throughout the national territory through the Provincial Chiefs of Telecommunications Inspection. The economic agents involved in the distribution chain are obliged to collaborate with the Administration, which has the power to promptly remove equipment for inspections.
The administrative powers of the market surveillance authority are applied using the principle of proportionality and range from the request for correction to the final withdrawal from the market of equipment which does not comply with the established requirements.
At the Ministry’s electronic headquarters is the procedure for the temporary use authorisations radio equipment and the procedure for referral of documentation in equipment market surveillance.
The Secretary of State participates in the European forums of market surveillance authorities in which, on the one hand, Spain exercises its institutional representation with full legal effect on the rules of Community law that occur and, on the other hand, information and good practices are shared in order to create a fully operational network of cross-border cooperation.